Posted on 06/16/2006 3:20:59 PM PDT by RWR8189
WASHINGTON - In the battle for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, no one is running harder than Mark Warner.
The former Virginia governor has a lot going for him: he is tireless and engaging; he talks about policy and international affairs with verve and a grasp of detail.
In a 30-minute interview, he comes across as an affable all-American guy who made a fortune in the cell phone business and happens to have an insatiable interest in politics.
At the end of his four years as governor, Governing magazine gave his administration an A- grade for its management of money and personnel. Only one other state, Utah, won as high a rating.
As chairman of the National Governors Association, he came up with a Medicaid proposal that would have slowed the growth of that $200 billion-a-year program.
Comptroller General David Walker and other non-partisan analysts warn that reform of Medicaid and other entitlements must be the highest priority for the next president — otherwise entitlements will eat up the entire budget. Warner's on top of this.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Warner and Evan Bayh are each much stronger candidates than John Kerry was. We need to hope Hillary is nominated or that we come up with a very strong candidate.
Evan Bayh is a much weaker candidate than you might get from a first impression.
His popularity in Indiana stems from his father's name, and over the past two years he has been leaching left on a whole host of issues.
Mark Warner is the Dem candidate to watch out for in 2008.
The downside: he is not popular among the Democrat base who wants someone like Feingold for 2008.
Yep, big time.
He was a governor but more importantly he is portrayed as a (conservative) "Southern Democrat." This will draw a lot of votes from seniors who tend to vote Republican now but will jump at a chance to vote for an "old style Democrat".
That is why a district in Texas that went 70% for President Bush in 2004 keeps electing a liberal Democrat to Congress. He runs as a "old time Southern Democrat" and is loved by just about everyone over 65.
Warner /Richardson
Warner could be a dangerous candidate in the general election, but I don't think he could survive the DIM primary. He's not crazy enough to get the blessing of the kooks.
God help America if he does.
Alot of people believed that about Clinton in 1991. These same people believed this about Carter in 1975.
For some reason, I have a sudden desire for some Chiclets.
The guy is butt-ugly. I don't think women will vote for him. He doesn't look presidential. George Allen or even Mitt Romney could wipe up the floor with him in the looks department.
And there's a baaaaad pattern there.
At the end of his four years as governor, Governing magazine gave his administration an A- grade for its management of money and personnel.
Warner is a comple empty suit. He is a Democrat who would get Quyaled by the National Media. A total sound bite politican. He may play well in Virginia, the National Media will eat him alive.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.